REG - Aptamer Group PLC - Optimer licensing agreements and repeat contracts

AptamerAnnouncement

15/05/2025 07:00

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RNS Number : 7352I  Aptamer Group PLC  15 May 2025

 

15 May 2025

 

Aptamer Group plc

 

("Aptamer", the "Company" or the "Group")

 

Optimer licensing agreements and repeat contracts

Licensing with global enzyme provider for two Optimer reagents in research and
diagnostics

Repeat development contracts worth up to £231,000 signal continued commercial
traction

 

Aptamer Group plc (AIM: APTA), the leading developer of next-generation
synthetic binders delivering innovation to the life science industry, is
pleased to announce two new fee-for-service development contracts with
existing customers, with a combined value of up to £231,000, demonstrating
continued confidence in the Optimer platform. The Group has also agreed
licensing heads of terms with a global provider of speciality enzymes for
developed enzyme-modulating Optimers.

 

The first of the two new development contracts, valued at up to £105,000,
focuses on creating additional enzyme-modulating Optimers to broaden the
customer's reagent offering. This is the second project with this customer.
The second development contract is with a top 20 global pharmaceutical
company. Valued at up to £126,000, this new fee-for-service development
project will involve the development of Optimer reagents targeting a small
molecule for use in the customer's internal research programmes. This marks a
second project with the pharmaceutical customer, following a previously
successful Optimer development and represents further repeat business. Aptamer
will retain IP rights on the binders, with potential for future downstream
licensing revenue.

 

The licensing terms with the global enzyme provider cover Optimer binders
developed under two separate fee-for-service contracts. The binders for the
first contract were successfully delivered in January 2025 and demonstrated
excellent performance both at Aptamer and in the customer's in-house tests,
leading to the additional fee-for-service work. The agreed licensing terms for
this contract include undisclosed milestone payments and a 10% royalty on
sales of all Optimer-containing products. Initial revenues from this
non-exclusive arrangement are expected within the financial year ended June
2026, representing one additional licensing opportunity to the ten
opportunities outlined in the interim results in March 2025. Licensing terms
on the second contract will earn 10% royalties and have additional undisclosed
financial terms on the commercialisation of successfully developed Optimers.
The provider operates within the global PCR market, which was valued at $9.9
billion in 2024 with a compound annual growth rate of 8.6%(1).

 

Dr Arron Tolley, Chief Executive Officer of Aptamer Group, said: "These new
agreements reflect the commercial momentum we are building behind our
platform. We are pleased to report the additional licensing opportunity, which
has been identified and agreed upon since the interim results and has
demonstrated the dedication of our commercial team. We are committed to
negotiating the best terms available for the Group and have now delivered
three double-digit licensing agreements this year.

 

"The latest development contract with downstream royalties agreed adds an
additional asset and royalty streams to Aptamer's growing portfolio. The
opportunity with the top 20 pharma partner represents growing interest in our
small molecule targeting platform and contributes to both near-term revenues
and potentially long-term value creation through royalty streams.
 Importantly, these are repeat engagements with respected global players,
validating our platform's utility and reinforcing the Group's strategic focus
on long-term sustainable growth."

 

1.    Fortune Business Insights. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Market.
(2025) Report ID: FBI102528

 

- Ends -

 

For further information, please contact:

 

 Aptamer Group plc                                               +44 (0) 1904 217 404 

 Dr Arron Tolley, Chief Executive Officer
 SPARK Advisory Partners Limited - Nominated Adviser             +44 (0) 20 3368 3550 

 Andrew Emmott / Jade Bayat 
 Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Limited - Broker                  +44 (0) 20 3657 0050 

 James Pope / Andrew Thacker 
 Northstar Communications Limited - Investor Relations           +44 (0) 113 730 3896

 Sarah Hollins

 

About Aptamer Group

 

Aptamer Group is a leading developer of next-generation synthetic binders
delivering innovation to the life sciences industry. The Group
develops Optimer® binders, advanced molecules that work like antibodies by
attaching to specific targets in the body. These binders are used
in medicine, diagnostic tests, and research tools, offering benefits
like high stability, reliable performance, and lower costs compared to
traditional antibodies.

 

Aptamer operates a fee-for-service business in the $210 billion market for
antibody alternatives, working with all top 10 global pharmaceutical
companies. It is also building valuable Optimer® assets with partners,
aiming for future licensing revenue.

 

Founded in 2008, the Group listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market in
December 2021 and is headquartered in York, UK.

 

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(https://aptamergroup.com/investors/investor-news-email-alerts/)

 

 

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